‘Operation Christmas Child’ looking for community support

November 07, 2008

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GAYLORD — Operation Christmas Child is seeking help from the Northern Michigan communities again this winter for packing shoebox size boxes or six-quart plastic storage containers for needy children overseas.

A project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief organization based in Boone, N.C., Operation Christmas Child’s collection week is Nov. 17-24.

According to Cheryl Halter and Colleen Keysor, Gaylord Collection Center co-coordinators, Gaylord Evangelical Free Church will once again be one of two designated collection centers in Northern Michigan.

Last year more than 20,000 shoeboxes were filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene products (see sidebar) from 16 northern collection relay centers.

Organizers are expecting even a greater number of boxes this year.

In 2007, Operation Christmas Child distributed more than 7.6 million shoeboxes to children in some 100 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Australia and the Pacific Rim, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States.